Spring-straining device for harvesters.



m. mum. Patented Nov. 6, I900. T. s. saowu.

SPRING STBAINING DEVICE FOR HARVESTERS,

(Application filed Mar. 27, 1900.)

(Wu Model.)

Units trio a THOMAS S. BROWN, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THEADRIANOE, PLATT & COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SFRING-STRAINING DEVICE FOR HARVESTERS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 661 ,204, dated November6, 1900.

Application filed March 27, 1900. Serial No. 10,352. (No model.)

T0 (11 whom it may concern:

Be it known that LTHOMAS S.BROWN,a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess, in the State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful improvement in Spring-strainingDevices for Mowers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the spring device which is used in mowers forbalancing or carrying the weight or part of the Weight of the innerportion of the cutter mechanism. In this class of spring devices alifting-spring is arranged lengthwise on the grainward side of the poleand connected at its front end to the pole and at its rear end to thedownwardly projecting short arm of an elbow-lever, which has itsforwardly-projecting long arm connected by a chain with the gag-lever,which is arranged at the inner end of the cutter mechanism. Thislifting-spring, which is under considerable tension, inclines rearwardlyto the elbow-lever and exerts considerable downward pressure upon thefront end of the pole. When the driver occupies the seat, whichoverhangs in rear of the axle,thisdownward pressure is practicallyovercome by the overhanging weight of the driver, which tends to liftthe front end of the pole. WVhen the driver leaves his seat,the tensionof the spring causes the front end of the pole to bear down upon thehorses. The object of my invention is to overcome this difficulty byproviding a simple straining device for the spring, which enables thedriver to relieve the spring tension by a quick movement when he leavesthe seat, and by which the spring can be again strained quickly to therequired tension when required.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of myimproved straining device applied to a mower, viewed from the grainwardside and showing the parts in the position in which the spring isstrained. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the straining device in the sameposition, viewed from the stubbleward side. Fig. 3 is a side elevationof the straining device in the released position, Viewed from thegrainward side. Fig. 4 isa sectional front elevation of the strainingdevice on an enlarged scale.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A-represents the draft-pole of a mowingmachine, which is secured withits rear end to the frame A. The latter is supported by an aXle a andwheels (1 and is providedwith a seat a which is arranged in rear of theaxle. I) represents the elbow or carrying lever, which is arranged 011the grainward side of the pole, near the rear end thereof, and pivotedon a stud c. The long arm I) of this lever projects forwardly and isconnected by a chain 61 with the gag-lever, (not shown,) so as to carrythe inner end of the cutter mechanism. The short arm Z) of theelbow-lever projects downwardly and is connected by a rod b with thefoot-lever b 1 represents the lifting hand-lever, which is pivotedconcentric with the elbow-lever. F represents the lifting-spring, whichis arranged lengthwise along the grainward side of the pole andconnected at its rear end with the short arm of the elbow or carryinglever. All of these parts are constructed and arranged in any suitableor well-known manner-t'or instance, as shown and described in LettersPatent No. 594,596, granted to Adriance, Platt & Oompany,as assignee ofmyself,November 30,1897.

The front end of the lifting-spring F is connected with the pole by thestraining device which forms the subject of this invention and which isconstructed as follows: G is a handlever which is pivoted to the pole.The pivotal portion g of this lever is arranged transversely andhorizontally on the under side of the pole and journaled in a bearing H,which is secured to the pole. the lever projects from the pivotal.portion 9 on the grainward side of the pole and is oonnected with thefront end of the lifting-spring, while the long arm g of the lever isarranged on the stubbleward side of the pole. The short arm is arrangedat an obtuse angle to the long arm, so that when the lever is in anupright position, as shown in Fig. 3, the short arm projects downwardly,while when the long arm is swung downwardly and back- The short arm g ofWardly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the short arm projects forwardly andupwardly. In the lastnamed position of the lever the lifting-spring isstrained, While when the lever is in its upright position'thelifting-spring is released. In order to strain the spring, it is onlynecessary to swing the long arm of the lever backwardly until the shortarm has passed beyond the dead-center. In this position of the parts thetension of the spring holds the lever securely in its depressedposition. I prefer, however, to provide the le ver with a lockingcontrivance, by which it is positively held in its depressed positionagainst accidental displacement, and by which the lever can be held inone of several intermediate positions for regulating the tension of thespring. This locking contrivance consists of a notched segment I and alocking-pawl K, Which engages therewith and is operated by a rod 1,bellcrank lever Z, and spring Z The segment is arranged on thestubbleward side of the pole and for convenience is formed in one piecewith the pivotbearing II of the lever.

I claim as my invention o 1. The combination with the pole, thecarrying-lever and the lifting-spring attached at its rear end to saidcarrying-lever, of a straining and releasing lever mounted on the poleand connected with the front end of the lifting-spring, substantially asset forth.

2. The combination with the pole, the carrying-lever, and thelifting-spring arranged along the grainward side of the pole andconnected at its rear end to the carrying-lever, of a straining andreleasing lever mounted on the pole and having its short arm arranged onthe grainward side of the pole and connected with the front end of thelifting-spring, While the long arm of said lever is arranged on thestubbleward side of the pole, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the pole, the carrying-lever, and thelifting-spring attached at its rear end to said carrying-lever, of astraining and releasing lever mounted on the pole and connected with thefront end of the lifting-spring, a spring-pressed locking-pawl carriedby said lever, and a locking-segment secured to the pole and engaged bysaid pawl, substantially as set forth.

\Vitness my hand this 24th day of March, 1900.

THOS. S. BROWN.

Witnesses:

HOWARD A. SoMERs, CHARLES LOUIS PULSIFER.

